Snag-proof slide fastener guard



April 26, 1960 E. w. MALMBORG $933,792

SNAG-PROOF suns FASTENER cum Filed Nov. 12, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I9 26 25 IN'VENTOR A Z'rz'CW/lfaZmlZoy I8 I1ci5 0% wwae ATTORNEY April 26, 1960 w MALMBQRG 2,933,792

SNAG-PROOF SLIDE FASTENER GUARD Filed Nov. 12, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR QKPM ' ATTORNEY SNAG-PROOF SLIDE FASTENER GUARD Eric W. Malmborg, Tire, Fla.

Application November 12, 1957, Serial No. 695,889

' 7 Claims. (Cl. 24--205.15)

The present invention relates broadly to fastening devices, and in its specific phases to slide fastener guards.

When operating the slide member of a conventional garment slide fastener in closing direction, slips, under- Wear, or other underlying fabric elements frequently become caught in the slide fastener teeth and jam the slide, causing a great deal of trouble, inconvenience, and even damage to the caught material. It was a recognition of this problem and the complete lack of any adequate solution to same, which led to the conception and development of the present invention.

Accordingly among the objects of the present invention is the solution of the above problem by means of a novel and inexpensive guard secured to the slide member of the slide fastener.

Another object is to provide a guard for the slide member of a slide fastener, and which may be in the form of an attachment for such slide member. 7

A further object is to provide an effective guard for the slide member of a slide fastener and which-does not require any changes in construction of the slide member.

Still further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain means for carrying out the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but several of various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In the annexed drawings: 7

Figure 1 is an outer side elevation, partly broken away and in section, showing one form of the invention attached to a slide fastener slide member Figure 2 is a partially sectioned edge view of the assembly shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an inner side elevation, partly broken away and in section.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section on line 44 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, the slide member being omitted.

Figure 5 is a detail section on line 5-5 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figures 6, 7, and 8 correspond to Figures 1, 2, and 3, respectively, but illustrate another form of construction.

- Figure 9 is a transverse section, partly in elevation, as taken on line 99 of Figure 7, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The invention is shown applied to a conventional slide fastener slide member S having an outer side wall 10, an inner side wall 11, and a channeled post 12 integrally connecting said walls at one end of the slide. Each wall 10, 11 has a longitudinal shank portion 13 and two branches 14 which diverge from said shank portion at opposite sides of the post 12; and each wall has the usual longitudinal guide flanges 15 extending along the side 2,933,792 Patented Apr. 26, 1960 centrally located web 19; and said plates are provided with inwardly stamped, channeled abutment lugs 20 which are received in the channel 21 of the post 12. i

The outer plate 17 is relatively short and is notched at 22 to clear the slide member handle 16. This plate 17 is provided with integral longitudinal flanges 23 which embrace the diverging side edges of the slide branches 14 of the outer side wall 11 and contact with the portions of the flanges 15 which extend along said side edges.

The inner plate 18 is relatively long and is formed with a somewhat widened end 24 which projects beyond the end of the slide S remote from the branches 14. This plate 18 has integral longitudinal flanges 25 which embrace the side edges of the shank portion 13 of the inner slide member wall 11 and contact with the portions of the flanges 15 which extend along said side edges.

Beads 26 are provided on edges of the plates 17 and 18 wherever advisable.

Due to the construction above described, the guard is simply and rigidly mounted on the slide member S; and during operation of this slide member, there is no danger of any fabric, even when underlying the slide member, becoming caught in the slide fastener teeth and causing trouble, since the slide fastener teeth (not shown) mesh within the guard and out of contact with any adjacent fabric.

In Figures 6 to 9, inclusive, a construction is shown which may be moulded from plastic, although it is obviously not limited to such material since the top and bottom portions can also be die cast or stamped or otherwise formed from any suitable material.

The plates 17a and 13a are similar to the plates 17 and 18 and are provided with flanges 23a and 25a corresponding to the flanges 23 and 25. A different structure is employed for tying the plates together and for providing abutment means to abut the slide fastener post 12 and engage the channel 21 thereof A central longitudinal flange 27 is formed on the inner plate 18a and projects toward the outer plate 17a; and one end 28 of this flange is tapered to abut the slide member post 12 and extend into the post channel 21.

The outer plate 17a is provided with flanges 29 which lie against and are conventionally fastened, as by cementing, or riveting, to opposite sides of the central flange 27. Preferably, this flange 27 has a locating stud 30 in its edge in position to be received in an opening 31 in the plate 17a, for properly positioning the parts relative to each other.

The construction shown in Figures 6 to 9, inclusive, functions in the same manner and possesses the same advantages as the structure shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, and here also beads 26a are provided wherever advisable.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing that novel and advantageous provision has been disclosed for attaining the desired ends, and making possible an attachment mountable by the slide fastener producer or at a later point in connection with the installation or use of the slide fastener. However, attention is invited to the possibility of making variations within the obvious spirit and scope of the invention as herein shown and described. Directional words such as inner and outer have been used for ease of describing the invention and are not to be considered as a limitation on same.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of those explained, change being made as regards the slide fastener guards herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a slide fastener slide member having an outer side wall, an inner side wall and an outwardly opening channeled post rigidly connecting said walls at one end of the slide member, each of said walls having a longitudinal shank portion and two branches which diverge from said shank portion at opposite sides of said channeled post; two parallel guard plates lying against the remote sides of said walls respectively, said guard plates having widened ends which project both laterally and longitudinally beyond said branches, one of said guard plates having longitudinal flanges embracing the side edges of the shank portion of one of said walls,

the other of said guard plates having diverging flanges embracing the side edges of the branches of the other of said Walls, tie means rigidly connecting the projecting ends of said guard plates and disposed centrally thereof, and abutment means on at least one of said guard plates, said abutment means being received in the channel of said post.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, wherein a portion of said abutment means comprises a Web member integral with one of said guard plates, and wherein another portion of said abutment means comprises a second web member integral with the other of said guard plates.

3. A structure as specified in claim 1, wherein said tie means comprises a central longitudinal flange on one of said guard plates and projecting toward the other of said guard plates, and two similar flanges on said other of said guard plates and secured against opposite sides of said central flange, and wherein one end of said central flange constitutes said abutment means.

4. A structure as specified in claim 1, wherein said tie means comprises a central longitudinal flange on one of said guard plates and projecting toward the other of said guard plates, and two similar flanges on said other of said guard plates and secured against opposite sides of said central flange, said guard plate carrying said two similar flanges having a hole therethrough between said flanges, and said central longitudinal flange having a locating stud fitting said hole, and wherein one end of said central flange constitutes said abutment means when said locating stud is in place in said hole.

5. In combination with a slide fastener slide member having an outer side Wall, an inner side wall, and a spacer connecting said walls at one end of the slide member and dividing said end so as to provide, at opposite sides of said spacer, branch openings into the interior of said slide member; two substantially parallel guard plates lying against the remote sides of said inner and outer side walls respectively, said guard plates extending respectively, under and over beyond said branch openings and covering and guarding same, abutment means between said guard plates and anchored to at least one of them and in contact with the outer face of said spacer which connects the inner and outer side walls of said slide member, further means between said guard plates beyond said abutment means, said further means helping to stabilize and anchor together said extending guard plates and further helping to guard said branch openings against accidental jamming or clogging under conditions of use, and means on said guard plates in the form of connectors adapted to engage the outer edges of the inner and outer side walls of said slide member so as to hold said abutment means tightly in contact with said connecting spacer of said slide member.

6. A structure as specified in claim 5, wherein said further means between said guard plates is a centrally located web rigidly joining the outer ends of said guard plates at the same side of said slide member as is in contact with said abutment means.

7. A structure as specified in claim 5, wherein said further means between said guard plates comprises an upstanding central flange fastened to one of said guard plates and extending longitudinally of said slide memher, said flange having said abutment means on one end of same, a locating means on an edge of said flange, said locating means engaging the other of said guard plates, when said guard plates are held in operating position with said connectors engaging the outer edges of said sidewalls, in a manner holding said abutment means up against said spacer of said slide member, a pair of flanges substantially parallel to and closely adjacent the opposite sides of said central flange and fastened to said other of said guard plates, and means for anchoring all of said flanges in fixed position relative to each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,679,783 Prentice Aug. 7, 1928 2,177,344 Lange Oct. 24, 1939 2,819,505 Marcellus Jan. 14, 1958 2,840,877 Foltis July 1, 1958 2,855,652 Jones Oct. 14, 1958 

